Bengal CPIM seeks to float ‘alternative schools', tuition centres, health camps ahead of 2026 Assembly polls

Indian Express

09-05-2025

In its first letter of the year to its ranks, the CPIM has called for the formation of grassroots-level 'alternative' schools, tuition centres, and health camps to reach out to the people of West Bengal.
Named 'Mission 360', the party's directive was made with determination to make significant gains in the upcoming 2026 Assembly polls. However, some leaders feels the party is also placing emphasis on rebuilding its credibility through these initiatives.
In its first organisational message of 2025, called the 'party chithi', the West Bengal CPIM stated, 'The struggle to present alternatives is very relevant in the present time.'
The party has instructed its cadre to establish at least two fully functional teaching centres in every district of the state. The message noted that party-affiliated teachers, professors and older students in higher education can be involved in the initiative.
Similarly, the party has directed that health centres be set up in every area committee, where medical advice and medicines can be provided at reasonable prices. These centres can involve local doctors, nurses, medical representatives, Red Volunteers, student and youth front workers, and various other organisations. The party chithi further instructed every district committee to launch such initiatives and submit reports by August this year.
Beyond these social initiatives, the CPIM's message stressed that the 2026 assembly election is a crucial 'political struggle' and must not be neglected. The party has mandated the formation of permanent organisational structures and members at every booth. It instructed that committees be formed at every booth across the state by June 30.
The memo also read, 'Individual campaigns on social media should be stopped. Party members expressing personal opinions – especially when they contradict party decisions – must refrain from doing so. Social media must not be used for inner-party struggles.'
A senior CPIM leader said, 'The party has not only lost vote shares but also its support base across the state. This decline happened because we lost social credibility. Regaining that credibility will automatically bring votes.'
He added, 'In the past, we gained workers and activists through various movements, but we failed to integrate them into the party structure. After the RG Kar movement, many from the broader society joined us, and we must now involve them in future movements to strengthen the party.'
CPIM state secretary and politburo member Md Salim said, 'We are not challenging the public health or education systems. However, it is true that both sectors in our state have serious gaps. Because of these gaps, the working class is suffering – they go to other states or spend large amounts of money on healthcare and education. We want to bridge that gap and help the poorer sections of society.'
He added, 'Our Red Volunteers did commendable work during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are engaging them and similar forces in these alternative health and education systems. (The project is) named Mission 360 because it is a project through which the party will intervene in all sectors of society to help the people.'
Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal.
Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More